Zurich robotics startup Rivr has partnered with Veho to trial its innovative four-wheeled, stair-climbing delivery robots in Austin, Texas, aiming to tackle the critical final stage in parcel delivery—the last hundred yards from vehicle to doorstep.
Starting this week, Rivr’s robotic couriers, described by CEO Marko Bjelonic as “dogs on rollerskates,” are working alongside Veho’s vans to ferry packages directly to customers’ homes. The pilot program will begin with a single robot operating for five to six hours per day under close supervision over the next few weeks, initially focusing on residential areas in northwest Austin. Plans are in place to subsequently introduce the robot into busier, more densely-populated parts of the city.
This collaboration marks Rivr’s first entry into the U.S. market and allows the startup to gather crucial data, which it hopes will eventually help define a broader framework for robotic physical intelligence. According to Bjelonic, one of the unique challenges facing robotics in this sector is access to sufficient real-world data—a necessity for enhancing robot capabilities over time. Unlike chatbot and autonomous vehicle developers, who naturally gather extensive datasets from internet interactions or globally deployed fleets, robotics companies need suitable scenarios to accumulate meaningful information. Last-mile deliveries present precisely such an opportunity.
For Veho, which delivers parcels for brands like Sephora, Saks, and HelloFresh across 50 major U.S. markets, Rivr’s robotic solution offers potential operational efficiencies—a crucial consideration in densely populated urban neighborhoods. By effectively enabling simultaneous deliveries along different streets, robots could significantly boost package drop-off rates while reducing the physical demands experienced by delivery drivers.
Throughout the pilot period, Rivr will station a staff member alongside the robot to guarantee safety and reliability during operations. Although the bots can operate autonomously, remote operators will remain available to intervene if the robots encounter difficulties or become obstructed.
Looking ahead, Veho anticipates expanding the use of Rivr’s robots to more extensive segments of its logistical network, potentially integrating dedicated charging stations into its vehicles to power bots for full-day operations without interruption. Rivr, meanwhile, intends to capitalize on insights gained from the Austin trials, targeting deployment of approximately 100 robots by next year, and scaling further to thousands of units by 2027.
Currently Rivr, backed by investors including Jeff Bezos, has already raised more than $25 million and is active within the United Kingdom through a partnership with delivery platform Evri.
